Lower body exercising device

ABSTRACT

An exercising device for securely receiving a user&#39;s shoe. The device comprises an elevated sole member, a cover member above the sole member open at its rear end for receiving the shoe, a means for securing the shoe, a means for providing grip to the shoe, and a means for providing traction to the device during use. The cover member is of sufficient thickness and length such that the heel of the user&#39;s shoe is elevated off the ground when the user&#39;s shoe is securely received. The cover member has elastic and non-elastic portions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to design patent application No. 29/271,134, filed on Jan. 8, 2007.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL

Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates in general to exercise footwear, and more particularly to an elevated shoe-like exercising device for performing squatting exercises.

A variety of footwear for use during exercising is known in the art. Some are designed to provide comfort and help tone muscles, particularly leg muscles. U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,361 to Hayes discloses an athletic training shoe for simulating a deep sand training environment where an individual's forefoot digs into deep sand during push-off. The shoe comprises a material-holding element having a front, a bottom, and pliable sides, a foot-receiving member attached to the material-holding element such that only a bottom forefoot portion of the foot-receiving member overlies the material-holding element and a volume of sand simulating material contained within the material-holding element. The material-holding element is filled with sand to a depth of at least the bottom of the forefoot portion of the foot-receiving member. The shoe also includes a plurality of securing straps connecting the bottom sole member to the foot-receiving member to affix and position the material-holding element. However, the structure of this shoe, including the material holding element and the sand simulating material, differs from the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,500 to Cox discloses an exercise shoe having a shoe vamp and a pillar sole member having a top, an intermediate portion and a bottom sole. The top is connected to the vamp in the area extending from the ball of the foot to the toe area and the intermediate portion sloping rearward and downward from the front connection at the toe area to facilitate distortion. The pillar sole member is of a height and compliance which makes difficult the touching of the heel area of the shoe to the supporting surface engaged by the bottom sole. However, the structure of the shoe vamp and pillar sole member are different from the present invention. In addition, both the above shoes are to be secured directly to a user's foot unlike the present invention, which is designed to receive and secure the forefoot portion of a user's shoe.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,542 to Kim discloses a frontal sole exercise device for attaching to a user's foot disposed in footwear. The device comprises a platform element having an upper and a lower surface, the upper surface of the platform element for receiving the forward portion of the footwear and the lower surface including a tractive sole. The platform element has sufficient thickness for causing the weight of the user to be borne by the forward portion of the footwear when attached to the exercise device. At least one front strap is affixed to the platform element for attaching the forward portion of the footwear to the upper surface and at least one rear strap affixed to the platform element attaching the rearward portion of the footwear to the platform element. Although this device is attachable to a user's shoe and includes an elevated platform, the present invention is different in that it comprises different means for securing a user's shoe and providing better grip and balance during squats.

The JUMPSOLES is a device used mainly for plyometric exercises, i.e., jumping drills. Because of the open design of the JUMPSOLES, using the JUMPSOLES for weight training purpose is impractical as the wearers feet has too much movement during squat exercises. Furthermore, the JUMPSOLES does not work out the wearer's soles. For the above reason, the present invention is patentable over the JUMPSOLES.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an exercise device that attaches to a user's shoe for use during leg presses and squats.

A further object is to provide an exercise device that isolates anterior leg muscles to include hips, thighs, and quads.

A further object is to provide an exercise device that provides a good grip to a user's shoe.

A further object is to provide an exercise device that offers increased balance and grip when performing squatting exercises. These and other objects of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the appended Summary, Description, and Claims.

SUMMARY

The present invention is a shoe-like exercising device for use during lower body exercises, such as leg presses and squatting. A user's shoe is secured to the device for performing exercises. The device comprises an elevated sole member, a cover member, and a plurality of straps with fasteners for securing the user's shoe after it is received between the sole member and the cover member.

The cover member may include an elastic portion with a split and a zipper for closing the split. The sole member is of sufficient height such that the heel of the user's shoe is elevated off the ground when the user's shoe is secured. The inner surface of the cover member includes nodules for providing grip to the user's shoe. The straps comprise at least one front strap attached to the sole member and at least one rear strap attached to the rear end of the cover member. The underside of the sole member also includes nodules and raised portions for providing grip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the exercise device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the exercise device.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the exercise device.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the exercise device.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the exercise device.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the exercise device.

FIGURES—REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10 . . . Exercise Device -   12 . . . Sole Member -   14 . . . Cover Member -   16 . . . Nodule -   18 . . . Raised Portion -   22 . . . Elastic Portion of the Cover Member -   24 . . . Zipper -   26 . . . Top Strap -   28 . . . Rear strap -   30 . . . Male End of Snap Buckle -   32 . . . Female End of Snap Buckle -   34 . . . D-Ring -   36 . . . Short Strap -   38 . . . Side Wall of the Sole Member

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of an exercising device 10 of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7. The device 10 is designed to be secured to a user's shoe. The device is used during lower body exercises such as squatting and leg presses and will help isolate the muscles of the lower body, including the hips, thighs and quads.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, the device 10 comprises a sole member 12, a cover member 14 and a plurality of straps 26, 28 and 36 for securing the user's shoe. The bottom portion of the sole member 12 includes a plurality of nodules 16 at its edges and a plurality of raised portions 18, all of which help in providing traction to the device 10. Preferably, the sole member 12 is made of non-slip hard rubber. The thickness of the sole member 12 is at its greatest at its rear end, and gradually decreases toward the front end to form a slightly sloping top surface. In one preferred embodiment, the thickness at the rear end is 2 inches.

The cover member 14 is above the sole member 12 and is open at its rear end for receiving the user's shoe. The cover member 14 is designed to fully encompass the forefoot portion of the user's shoe. The sole member 12 is of a thickness and length so that the heel of the user's shoe is elevated off the ground when the user's shoe is secured to the device 10. In one preferred embodiment, the sole member 12 is elevated and extends from arch to toes. The side walls 38 of the sole member 12 slope outward from the top portion of the sole member 12 to the bottom portion. This makes the bottom portion of the sole member 12 broader than the top portion, providing better balance during exercising.

The cover member 14 may be made of a variety of materials or combinations thereof. These materials may be elastic and/or non-elastic. The elastic portion 22 extends from the rear end of the cover member 14 to the middle of the cover member 14. The elastic portion 22 includes a split dividing it into two sections. In one embodiment, a zipper 24 is used to connect the two sections of the elastic portion 22. The inner surface of the cover member 14 and the top portion of the sole member 12 include nodules 16 to provide grip to the user's shoe.

A variety and number of attaching means may be used to secure the user's shoe to the device 10. In one embodiment, straps are used. The straps comprise two top straps 26 and two rear straps 28. The top straps 26 are attached to one side of the sole member 12 and include a male end of a snap buckle 30 at their free ends. Two female ends of the snap buckles 32 are attached to the other side of the sole member 12. The top straps 26 are elastic and are preferably made of nylon. The top straps 26 are connected to D-ring like members 34 attached to the sole member 12. Short straps 36 are used to attach the female ends of the snap buckles 32 to D-ring like members 34 attached to the other side of the sole member 12.

The two rear straps 28 are attached to two side rear ends of the cover member 14, respectively, using D-ring like members 34. The rear straps 28 are preferably made of nylon and include hook and loop fasteners or Velcro (not shown) on one of their surfaces. To secure a user's shoe, initially, the shoe is inserted between the cover member 14 and the sole member 12. The zipper 24 can be unlocked when inserting the shoe. The top straps 26 are passed over the cover member 12 and the male ends of the snap buckles 30 are connected to the corresponding female ends of the snap buckles 32. Following which, the rear straps 28 are secured after passing them over the heels of the user. Once secured, the user can exercise the lower body by performing leg exercising motions such as squats or calf raises.

All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation. 

1. An exercising device for exercising the lower body, comprising: (a) a sole member of sufficient thickness and length such that the heel of the user's shoe is elevated off the ground when the user's shoe is securely received; (b) a cover member above the sole member and opened at its rear end for receiving the shoe wherein the forefoot portion of the shoe is received between the cover member and the sole member;
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the cover member fully encloses the forefoot portion of the shoe.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the sole member is made of two-tone hard rubber.
 4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of nodules and raised portions on the bottom portion of the sole member for providing traction.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the nodules are at the edges of the sole member.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the cover member contains an elastic portion which extends to the rear end of the cover member and includes a split for dividing the cover member into two sections and a closure means used for connecting the two sections.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the elastic portion extends from the rear end of the cover member to the middle of the cover member.
 8. The device of claim 6, wherein the closure means comprises a zipper.
 9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of nodules on the top portion of the sole and on the inner surface of the cover member for providing grip to the user's shoe.
 10. The device of claim 1, further comprising attachment means for securing the user's shoe to the device.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein the means for securing the user's shoe comprises: (a) a plurality of top straps attached to either sides of the sole member; (b) at least one rear strap at the rear end of cover member for holding the user's shoe from behind; and (c) fasteners for securing the top straps after passing them over the cover member and for securing the rear straps.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the top straps are elastic and the fasteners for securing them are snap buckles.
 13. The device of claim 11, wherein the top straps are made of elastic nylon.
 14. The device of claim 11, wherein the fasteners for securing the rear straps comprise Velcro.
 15. The device of claim 11, wherein the rear straps are made of nylon.
 16. The device of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion of the sole member further comprises a plurality of nodules.
 17. The device of claim 1, wherein the side walls of the sole member slope outward from the top portion of the sole member to its bottom portion, making the bottom portion of the sole member broader than its top portion.
 18. The device of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the sole gradually decreases from its rear end to its front end to form a slightly sloping top surface.
 19. A method for using a device of the present invention, comprising the step of: Placing a user's feet into the device of the present invention; Securing the user's feet in the device by tightening fasteners on the device of the present invention.
 20. A method for using a device of the present invention for exercising the lower body, comprising the step of: Securing a device of the present invention to the user's feet; and Performing leg exercising motions. 